Process of constructiong fabric structures



c. A SALISBURY. PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING FABRIC STRUCTURES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1919.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

uvmvron Charles 4621111912111 WITNESSES Wok/MM 6%? 1 A TTOR/VEVS CHARLES A. SALIfa'BURY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF GONEYJTRUCTING FABRIC STRUCTURES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 24, 1919. Serial No. 940,425.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. Saus- BURY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and linproved Process of Constructing Fabric Structures, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in theatrical equipments, and 1t pertains moreparticularly to a mat or cloth covering for stage surfaces, commonly known in the art as ground cloth, stage cloth, floor cloth, etc. I

The present invention is a continuation in part of my application filed April 18,

1919, and patented Mar. 30, 1920, No. 1,335,607, to which cross reference is here ma e.

The surfaces of stage floors are generally covered with a removable canvas or other floor covering, and it is this class of invention to which the present invention pertains.

Devices of this character are subjected to rough usage as the result of continuous walking, dancing, and the like, and it is the primary object of the present invention to construct a device of this character which will be capable of withstanding the excessive wear and strain to which it is subjected.

Owing to the large surface to be covered, devices of this character are made from a plurality of individual strips of canvas, khaki, or other suitable material, which strips are sewed together to form a single mat, and a further object of the present invention is to so arrange the several strips of material in such a manner that the seams by which they are secured together are protected from the rough usage heretofore mentioned.

It is another object of the invention to provide means by which the device may be retained in proper position on the stage surface.

It is a still further object of the invention to so construct the retaining means and reinforce its attachment to the margmal edges of the floor cloth, as to render it capable of withstanding the strains of properly stretching without injuring the same.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the com.-

pleted floor cloth constructed in accord ance with the present invention;

Fig-,2 is-a detail sectional view showing the initial step in the operation of securing the severalstrips together; a

ings, the reference character A designates the floor cloth, andsaid floor cloth is formed from a plurality of individual strips of canvas, khaki, or other suitable material designated by the reference character 5. In securing these strips together, they are positioned as shown in Fig. 2, i. a, one strip on theother, theupper strip having its edge positioned slightly back from the edge of the under strip as indicated by the reference character B in Fig. 2. When two of the strips have been thus positioned, they are secured together by a double line of stitching 6. These lines of stitching 6 may be arranged parallel to each other, as shown in the drawings, or, if desired, said lines of stitching may be made one upon the other. After two strips 5 have been secured together in this manner, the upper strip is folded to the position which it occupies in Fig. 3, as designated by the dotted line position and arrow D in Fig. 2. This operation provides a loop or fold 7 which overlies the double stitching 6, and serves as a protection therefor in such a manner that as the floor cloth is walked upon, the stitching 6 is not exposed to the wear incident thereto. After the upper strip has been folded over, it issecured in its folded position by means of a single line of stitching 8.

After a sufficient number of the strips have been secured together in this manner to form a floor cloth of the desired shape and size, the marginal edge of the completed cloth. is provided on its under side with a strip of suitable reinforcing material 9. he strip of reinforcing material 9 is then provided with a plurality of spaced openings, as is also the marginal edge of the floor cloth, and in each of these openings is preferably placed a metal gromet 10, which forms the means together with a suitable rope or lacing, for securing and properly stretching the floor cloth in operative position. In lieu of the metal gromets l0, hand-worked gromets may be employed, and

Patented Nov. 9, 1920. i

in addition to thereinforcing strip 9 preventing tearing of the floor cloth during the stretching operation, it also provides means by which the floor cloth may be properly secured in place as by means of tacks or similar driven fastenings.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a floor cloth in which while one oi the seams, i. 6., the stltchlng 8, is exposed to wear, the

several sections which form the floor cloth are secured together by means of a plurality of lines of stitching, which are completely protected from the wear incident to the use for which the floor cloth is intended. Should the line of stitching 8'become Worn to such an extent as to permit of the sepa- '6 to service.

vGlahns: V i V 1. The process of constructing fabric structures, which consists in placing strips of material in superimposed relation with {the edgeof one strip spaced from the edge of the ad acent strip, securing said strips togetherby a plurality of stitches, subsequently folding one of said strips of material 7 with respect to the other in such a manner as to conceal said plurality of stitches, and subsequently securing said strips in such relation with a plurality of exposed stitches, said stitches passing through the loop of the folded strip and beyondthe inclosed edgeot the spac'ed strip. I V 2. The process of" constructing fabr c structures whichconsists-in lacin stri as of material in superposed relation with the edge of one stripspaced with respect to the edge of the adjacent strip, securing said strips togetherby a plurality of stitches,subsequently folding one or said strips with respect to the other strip to conceal said stitches, and retaining said'strip'in iolded position by means of 'a line of exposed stitching passing through both of said strips at a point between the edge of the spaced strip and the edge of the strip to'which it is attached. 7 r

V CHAS. A. SALISBURY. 

